How are things across the pond Chap?

[ajax18]

Delingpole: Lockdown Britain Steps Closer towards Totalitarianism

Today Britain’s MPs failed the most important test of their political careers.

They voted – by 516 to 38 – to turn the United Kingdom into a totalitarian police state.

From midnight Wednesday, the British population will be forced to spend a month (at least) under restrictions so severe that they make life behind the Iron Curtain in Soviet Bloc Soviet Eastern Europe look almost carefree by comparison.

Nobody will be allowed to travel abroad (except on approved business). Nobody will be able to go to pubs or restaurants or gyms or swimming pools (all closed, by order of the government). Nobody will be allowed to practise any form of sport — not golf, not tennis, not riding, not shooting, and definitely not any team games. Everybody will be kept under house arrest, other than for certain state-mandated exemptions such as being a designated ‘key worker’ or shopping for supplies (but only those designated ‘essential’).

You might have thought that the biggest theft of civil liberties in British history would get some pushback from MPs, Conservative ones especially.

After all, lockdowns like this are not only enormously damaging to the economy — at a cost of at least £2 billion per day — as well as to the nation’s mental and physical health. Also, as senior lawyer Lord Sumption warned, it ‘marks a move to a more authoritarian model of politics’ which will transform ‘the relationship between the state and the citizen’ and lead to ‘distrust, resentment and mutual hostility.’

Anyone who doubts the corrosive effects this ‘authoritarian model’ is having on the British way of life should have a look at this video.


It purportedly shows a daughter — a qualified nurse — trying to take her 97-year old mother home from her care home only to be prevented from doing so by the police. It is claimed the mother is now back in the care home.

Here is another disturbing image, allegedly showing a five-year-old being refused entry to school because his parent is not wearing a face mask.


How can this possibly be a police matter? Surely, with Britain at a heightened state of terrorist alert, the forces of law and order ought to have better things to do than go round bothering people who are not wearing masks?


And surely when a once proudly-free country slides so rapidly towards tyranny, the first line of defence ought to be independent-minded MPs saying: “Enough is enough!”

But no. Only 38 MPs voted against this outrageous and dubious imposition.

It is as if Britain has been hijacked by a cabal of accidental fascists. No doubt the small group currently dictating Britain’s coronavirus policy — Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak — entered Conservative politics for the noblest of reasons. But their policies are the purest totalitarian evil. Absolute power has gone to their heads.

This open letter to Michael Gove, written by his friend, Conservative Woman co-editor Kathy Gyngell, captures well the horror and disbelief so many natural conservatives are currently feeling as they look at government policy and ask ‘Why are they doing this?’

How can you continue to treat every British citizen as though they face a very high risk of being hospitalised or even dying as a result of exposure to Covid, when this patently is not true? And why pretend the NHS is overwhelmed when the Nightingale hospitals lie empty? And how, this weekend, could you have bought into and sold the public such a dodgy Covid deaths dossier, your so-called ‘realistic worst case’ scenarios that lack any credibility an excuse for lockdown?

How can you justify failing to subject lockdown to a detailed cost benefits exercise? And yet you are going down the same un-costed route again.

How can you justify outsourcing the entire educational, economic, mental and social wellbeing of the nation to ever more secretive and unaccountable NHS quangos with their own political and vested interests all supposedly under the control of Matt Hancock at the Department of Health?

Lastly, how can you, an economic liberal, be part of a government which has needlessly wrecked Britain’s economy? You and colleagues may be shielded from the onslaught that the nation is about to experience thanks to your publicly-funded salary and pension, but most others – particularly the self-employed, the sole traders and those who run small businesses – face a very different future, one that is genuinely frightening. Irresponsible doesn’t begin to describe the national economic and political catastrophe your latest lockdown decision is leading us to.

So many and varied and compelling are the arguments against a second lockdown that even the mainstream media — till recently the government’s bought-and-paid-for cheerleaders — is waking up to the scale of the impending disaster.

We know — because they’ve admitted it — that the computer-modelled projections by Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (a.k.a. ‘Unbalanced and Witless’) of 4,000 Coronavirus deaths a day were an implausible exaggeration.

We know that Boris Johnson’s eyewateringly expensive ‘moonshot’ track and trace mass testing system — the end goal of the lockdown — is risibly unfit for purpose.

It is truly extraordinary that on the basis of no cost-benefit analysis, no serious consideration of the scientific counter-arguments, Britain’s MPs voted almost unanimously for a lockdown which will damage their constituents’ freedoms, livelihoods and health while offering no obvious compensatory benefit.

Not one of the MPs who so blithely voted for this monstrous imposition deserves your vote ever again.

Here is the small, honourable list of those MPs who did the right thing. Among Conservatives, they include Steve Baker, Ian Duncan Smith, Philip Hollobone, and Chris Green. The Democratic Unionists were also solid; as was Independent Dr Julian Lewis.

The rest should live eternally in infamy.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/1 ... tarianism/

[Chap]

See for yourself.

Most people live in Tier 2 areas; some are in Tier 3.

You might like to compare this with the Breitbart article.

Tier 2: High alert
This is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections, where some additional restrictions need to be in place.

In tier 2:

you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
stop taking orders after 10pm
hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies
weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.
organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue
organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing
you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
if you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities.You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey
for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list


Tier 3: Very High alert
This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In tier 3:

you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues
you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training
indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:
indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play
casinos
bingo halls
bowling alleys
skating rinks
amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
laser quests and escape rooms
cinemas, theatres and concert halls
snooker halls
indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:
zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves
aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions
model villages
museums, galleries and sculpture parks
botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses
theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs
visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes
landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms
leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close
there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators
large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events
places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s
you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey
for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list
Exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers
as part of a single household, or a support bubble
for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other people’s homes
for childcare, education or training – meaning education and training provided as part of a formal curriculum
for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and children’s playgroups
for formal support groups, and parent and child groups – up to 15 people aged 5 and older
to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care
for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians
for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them
for birth partners
to attend a funeral – with no more than 30 people present – or a commemorative event such as a wake for someone who has died – with no more than 15 people present
to see someone who is terminally ill or at the end of life
to attend a wedding or civil partnership – with no more than 15 people present
to provide emergency assistance
to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm
to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service
to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable or to provide respite for a carer
to facilitate moving home
Published 23 November 2020

[Jersey Girl]

Chap your restrictions are far more detailed than ours. I like the way they are stated so clearly and I wish we had the same here.

[ajax18]

you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol

What does alcohol have to do with Covid transmission?

close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
stop taking orders after 10pm
hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm

What does time of day have to do with Covid transmission?

public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

So I guess BLM marches are not allowed. That was far more than 2,000 people outdoors.

places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies

Why would someone have a legal exemption to socialize with people indoors?

This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

Why does level of infections matter? Infection level is going to go up no matter what you do. If it weren't so, your harsher lockdowns wouldn't have left you in the same or worse condition as we have in the southern US. Isn't the goal just to keep ICUs from being overrun?

[Res Ipsa]

Ajax, please stop pretending as if these questions of yours have never been answered before. You just keep ignoring the answers and repeating the same nonsense. Many countries are keeping COVID under control with a combinations of lockdowns to contain outbreaks and testing, isolation, contract tracing and quarantine to keep transmission at relatively low levels. Lockdowns are an emergency measure to avoid overruns of the healthcare system and to suppress the disease down to levels where the testing, isolation etc. can effectively work. Hell, South Korea has controlled major outbreaks without lockdowns because their people listen to and follow the direction of their leaders.

We have had to resort to half-assed lockdowns because Trump and his fan club politicized basic public health measures. Trump could be president elect today if he'd simply listened to and followed the advice of public health experts. Because he chose instead to make the pandemic a divisive political issue, we have a substantial portion of our population who won't isolate when they have symptoms, who won't cooperate with contract tracers, who won't quarantine when exposed, who won't avoid gatherings, who won't wear masks, etc. This willful lack of cooperation leaves us with only one tool to protect our health care system: half-assed lockdowns.

We didn't have to kill and disable as many Americans as we have and will in the future. Some of us have done everything we can to avoid causing unnecessary death and suffering. Those that have forgotten what it means to be Americans simply decided they didn't care.

[Jersey Girl]

Ajax, please stop pretending as if these questions of yours have never been answered before. You just keep ignoring the answers and repeating the same nonsense.

Yeah, it's become some kind of sick game.

[ajax18]

Trump could be president elect today if he'd simply listened to and followed the advice of public health experts.

Lol. You can't really believe that. CNN wasn't going to let that happen.

we have a substantial portion of our population who won't isolate when they have symptoms, who won't cooperate with contract tracers, who won't quarantine when exposed, who won't avoid gatherings, who won't wear masks, et

We were always going to have a significant portion of the population who did that and it has very little to due with political opinion. A significant portion of the people in government making these rules won't live by them and have been repeatedly caught in their hypocrisy!

And secondly if you're worried about what goes on in Florida, just quarantine them before they get to Washington state as you would someone coming from Wuhan China. We're not infecting your air. We're a lot further away than 7 feet. That's why we're a nation of sovereign states. I'm fine with you shutting down every flu season until the apocalypse but don't expect my federal tax dollars to pay for it.

[Icarus]

We were always going to have a significant portion of the population who did that and it has very little to due with political opinion.

Then where was the Right Wing outrage when Trump wanted to initiate lockdowns by quarantining the entire state of New York? If Trump had pushed for lockdowns you'd be supporting it as would all of the other brainless idiots who follow him. The only reason he didn't is because he thought he could gas light his way out of a pandemic the way he gas lights everyone about everything. Like his delusional insistence that the election was stolen sans evidence. Trump was more worried about the stock market than he was American's dying by the tens of thousands.

And secondly if you're worried about what goes on in Florida, just quarantine them before they get to Washington state as you would someone coming from Wuhan China. We're not infecting your air. We're a lot further away than 7 feet. That's why we're a nation of sovereign states. I'm fine with you shutting down every flu season until the apocalypse but don't expect my federal tax dollars to pay for it.

HFS this was a stupid remark. You're basically saying a state should be able to let a virus run rampant because... the virus won't cross state lines and people can be tracked and quarantined when leaving the state. Earth to fuqing moron, there are thousands of people leaving the state of Florida every single day.

[Moksha]

What about Klan rallies or White Citizens Council Meetings? Wait, you don't have those in Britain do you? Well, what about their equivalents? Those blokes must be hopping mad.

[ajax18]

Then where was the Right Wing outrage when Trump wanted to initiate lockdowns by quarantining the entire state of New York?

If Trump had pushed for lockdowns you'd be supporting it as would all of the other brainless idiots who follow him.

Thankfully Trump did cut off travel from China initially but the left fought him every step of the way with that old favorite attack line, "That's racist." It doesn't matter. We can't even enforce our borders. There's no way we can enforce a lockdown anyway. All it does is drive the economy onto the black market and allows the government more power to pick winners and losers in the marketplace.

HFS this was a stupid remark. You're basically saying a state should be able to let a virus run rampant because... the virus won't cross state lines and people can be tracked and quarantined when leaving the state. Earth to fuqing moron, there are thousands of people leaving the state of Florida every single day.

And apparently plane loads of coughing Brazillians heading to Atlanta every day. Do you make them quarantine? Do they even get tested?